TARPS movie fund-raiser; Whiting presents global warming author; spring over to Family Center; Herrick’s Cove event

Mary Poppins Benefit for TARPS shelter

Bellows Falls Opera House is sponsoring a benefit showing of Mary Poppins 7 p.m., Thursday March 21 at The Square in Bellows Falls to raise funds for The Animal Rescue and Protection Society based in Chester.

Part live action and part animation, Mary Poppins is rated G and is appropriate for all ages. Tickets are $4. There will be a raffle and merchandise available for purchase. All profits will go toward the funding of TARPS’ mission. Additional donations will be gratefully received.

The Animal Rescue and Protection Society is located at 1758 Route 103S. Funded wholly by donations and maintained by volunteers, TARPS’ mission is to effect positive change in the proper care and welfare of animals. The shelter rescues and rehomes hundreds of cats and small animals per year. For more information on the movie showing or TARPS shelter and organization, email shelter@tarpsanimalsheltervt.org or visit www.tarpsanimalsheltervt.org.

Whiting book discussion on adapting to global warming

Whiting Library, in partnership with the Grafton Nature Museum and Misty Valley Books is offering a discussion of the book: Finding Higher Ground: Adaptation in the Age of Warming by written Amy Seidl at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 10 at 117 Main St.

The library will offer a limited number of the books for purchase for those interested in attending the discussion. Books may also be purchased at Misty Valley Books on the Common.

The Nature Museum will present author Amy Seidl at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 25 at NewsBank. 397 Main St. Seidl will speak about her book and the resilience of the environment and human culture in this time of climate change.

This is a free event open to the public. For more information call (802) 875-2277. Library hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Spring fashions at Chester-Andover Family Center

The Thrift Shop at Chester-Andover Family Center, 908 VT Route 103, are now selling spring and summer clothing for the entire family.

Thrift Shop hours are Tuesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesdays 1 to 4 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Food Shelf hours are 1 to 6 p.m. Thursdays. For information: call (802) 875-3236, email: cafc302@gmail.com, or visit website http://www.chester-andoverfamilycenter.weebly.com.

The center would like to thank those who made the family center’s Election Day Bake Sale a success, the bakers and the members of the community who purchased items or made a donation.

The Food Shelf pantry now includes fresh fruits and vegetables, chicken and duck eggs and bread. Thanks to Black River Produce for its weekly donation of fruit and the local families who donate eggs. The number of Food Shelf recipients is continuing to increase and donations are welcome. The Family Center encourages people, when doing food shopping, to consider picking up extra items such as non-perishables, juices, and canned and fresh fruit for the Food Shelf.

14th Annual Herricks Cove Wildlife Fest celebrates river

The Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival will take place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 5 at the cove on Herricks Cove Road in Rockingham.

This year’s festival includes nature presentations, activities and programs featuring live animals, guided nature walks, crafts, food, workshops, children’s wildlife parade and birding. More than 25 outdoor, wildlife, environmental and conservation groups will be represented. The W.I.L.D Center and Zoological Park of New England will present a variety of live animals from many continents. The Vermont Institute for Natural Science, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, the Wolf Conservation Center, the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum are among the current list of exhibitors.

New this year will be Lindsay Bezich’s Puppet Pals, giant hand puppets and marionettes. The festival will run rain or shine. Entry is free but a donation of $2 person or $5 family is suggested. No pets, please Shuttle service available from outlying parking lots.

Visit Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival page on Facebook for programming updates, additional photos and information or go to http://www.nature-museum.org/herrickscove.html. Or call 802-722-3355, or e-mail Alma Beals at madalma13@yahoo.com.

Trap, neuter and release program

Windham County Humane Society is holding six spay/neuter clinics in Bellows Falls in the lower theater of the Bellows Falls Opera House, The Square, Bellows Falls funded by a grant from PetSmart Charities.

The clinics will take place: Friday, March 22; Monday, April 8; Monday, May 6; Thursday, June 13; Monday, September 9; and Friday, October 18.

The grant’s main focus is the trapping of un-owned, feral or free roaming cats to spay/neuter and vaccinate them. After the procedure, they will be returned to their colonies.

The Animal Rescue and Protection Society of Chester, The Springfield Humane Society and other area animal welfare volunteers will be aiding this effort.

There will be limited space for cats owned by Bellows Falls residents to be spay/neutered and vaccinated. The cost is $25 for the procedures. Residents must meet specific guidelines. WCHS will use the state’s guidelines of checking  proof of need to determine who qualifies for the service. For more information call WCHS at 802-254-2232.